Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett recognized for innovation

OKLAHOMA CITY, Dec. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Newsweek has named Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett as one of the top five city hall innovators in the U.S.

Cornett was one of five mayors credited with tackling such issues as education reform, public safety, quality of life and job creation.

Oklahoma City and Cornett were singled out for quality of life initiatives in regard to the MAPS, MAPS for Kids and MAPS 3 programs and the Mayor's "This City is Going on a Diet" obesity awareness campaign.

The article, by John Avlon, cites Oklahoma City's ability to finance the MAPS quality-of-life improvements "without incurring additional taxpayer debt by paying in cash, courtesy of a temporary penny-on-the-dollar sales-tax increase."

Based on Oklahoma City's example, Newsweek concludes "the era of ambitious public works isn't over; it's just being financed more sustainably, securing a civic infrastructure that everyone can enjoy."

In addition to Oklahoma City and Cornett, the article, which can be found online at www.dailybeast.com, applauds innovations by New Orleans and Mayor Mitch Landrieu, New York City and Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Chicago and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and Kansas City and Mayor Sly James.

Contact: Steve Hill, 405-297-3073, [email protected]

SOURCE The City of Oklahoma City